Wichita Civil War Roundtable events scheduled

The Wichita Civil War Roundtable is sponsoring two events, both of which are open to the public.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Civil War re-enactor Sonny Scroggins will present “A Visit with James Whitfield Ross.” The talk will be held in the board room at the downtown public library. It is free.

Ross, a former slave, was part of 1st Kansas Colored Regiment, the first regiment of black men to fight for the U.S. Army from a northern state and the first to serve alongside whites. The infantry regiment was formed a year before the 54th Massachusetts Infantry was formed in 1863. The 54th was made famous in the 1989 movie, “Glory.”

And, at 7 p.m. June 27, the Roundtable is hosting an event featuring Ed Bearss at the DAV Club House at 3011 S. George Washington Blvd. Bearss, who lives in Arlington, Va., is a military historian and nationally known lecturer on the Civil War. He was featured in the Ken Burns series, “The Civil War.”

Cost for the June 27 event is $20 per person. Reservations are required. Send check or money order to Dick Croft, Wichita Civil War Roundtable treasurer, 11017 S. 151st Street West, Clearwater, KS 67026-9580. Include your address and telephone number with the check.

The Roundtable meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month from September through May in the board room at the downtown Wichita Public Library. Cost is $10 for a year’s membership.